Young Man Who Lost His Voice Due to Tracheostomy Regained His Voice After Months

Yusuf Kartal (23) living in Ankara was admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment after an unfortunate accident. On the 5th day, the young patient underwent tracheostomy (the procedure of inserting a tube by surgically opening a hole from the throat to the trachea) in order to provide his breathing. Many physicians said to Kartal, who had difficulty speaking and could not even make a sound after he was discharged from the intensive care unit, 'from now on you will have a hoarse voice'. After the operation performed by Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan, Kartal, who both got rid of the tracheostomy and started to speak again months later, said, “I am very happy to hear my voice again.”

Yusuf Kartal was admitted to intensive care after an unfortunate accident. The young patient, who was kept under treatment in the intensive care unit for 8 days, was connected to the ventilator on the 5th day. Then tracheostomy was performed on his throat and respiratory support treatment continued in this way. Yusuf Kartal, who was discharged from the intensive care unit, first became unable to speak and make his voice heard as before, and then he completely lost his voice. Kartal, who had difficulties in his daily life due to this problem and could not socialize as a young university student, also had a difficult time psychologically. Kartal, who could not get results from the treatments performed, ended up in Istanbul. After the examination performed by Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan, Head of the Thoracic Surgery Department at Yeditepe University Hospitals, it was determined that the 6-centimeter section of the trachea was completely occluded. After a detailed evaluation, it was decided that the patient might have a chance for surgical treatment. The operation was successfully completed by removing this six-centimeter section of the trachea, which was completely occluded due to damage, with advanced surgical methods, and reuniting the remaining intact ends of the normal trachea. Months later, the young man survived the hole in his throat and tracheostomy, and he was able to hear and speak comfortably again.

"They Said Your Will Have a Hoarse Voice from Now On"

Expressing that the difficulty he experienced in speaking and his inability to make his voice heard affected him deeply psychologically, Yusuf Kartal expressed the difficult process with the following words:

“I'm 23 years old and I thought my life had suddenly turned upside down. I was a very social person. I loved spending time with my friends. But I couldn't speak. I couldn't talk to my friends. I couldn't chat with my family at home. I couldn't even call anyone at home when I needed it. Not being able to speak gave me a very difficult time. This situation hurt me psychologically. Many of the physicians we consulted for treatment in Ankara said that from now on I would live without my voice. None of the treatments applied helped. As a result of our research, we reached Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan. I found my voice so strange after the surgery, I had forgotten my voice. I feel very good right now. I can easily talk to my friends just like before.”

"The 4-Cm Section of the Trachea Was Completely Occluded"

Thoracic Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan, who made Yusuf regain his old voice, made the following statement about the operation: “When we spoke to Yusuf, the upper 4 cm section of his trachea was completely occluded. There was also a tracheostomy cannula and the damaged area it caused in the initially intact trachea below the occluded area. Yusuf could not speak and was breathing through the tracheostomy. In this case, the quality of life was negatively affected. We did our detailed investigations to save him from this situation. Considering Yusuf's general condition and his tallness, we evaluated the location of his trachea in detail. We performed the surgery with very special advanced techniques. After a successful operation, we completed the operation by removing the fully occluded and damaged part of 6 centimeters and bringing the normal trachea end to end. We concluded the treatment of the vocal cords at risk without any complications in their functions.”

In What Situations Does It Become a Necessity?

Prof. Dr. Sina Ercan, Dean of Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine and Head of the Thoracic Surgery Department stated that unfortunately some of the patients in this situation cannot return to their old days, and made the following warning: “Sometimes, patients may have to continue their lives with tracheostomy for life because they cannot meet with the necessary treatment opportunity for no reason. This creates a serious quality of life and communication problems. It can affect patients psychologically. Over the years, complications from tracheostomy can occur, some of which can be life-threatening. If the patient still needs respiratory support after 10-15 days on the inhaler, opening a tracheostomy for that patient is a correct and standard approach. However, complications may develop in some patients. The trachea can become so narrowed and damaged that it does not allow for the removal of the tracheostomy. It is necessary to pay attention to these and keep in mind that the highest chance for the treatment of these problems of the patient is in the first attempt to be made on time and correctly.”

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